X Factor 2012: #maloneygate! Find out what really happened as it’s revealed that Christopher Maloney’s place on the live tour is now “in doubt”

Fans of The X Factor will of course know that third placed runner-up Christopher Maloney was nowhere to be seen during last night’s final…

And as we reported yesterday afternoon, and last night – during our live blog as the incident evolved – it all began when Christopher turned up yesterday morning at the show’s venue in Manchester “clearly drunk.”

He then apparently stormed off when he became angry that he had only one line to sing in the finalists’ group performance. The Sun reports that he was supposed to be back at 11am for a second rehearsal, but when he didn’t arrive, the finalists’ song was hastily rearranged to exclude him. You can click here to find out what an X Factor insider told us here at Unreality TV about what was going on…

The next round in Maloney-gate came when he allegedly arrived well after midday, and even more drunk, telling the show’s producers that he no longer wanted to be part of the show. He reportedly then went back to the hotel the finalists were staying in to pack, intent on returning home to Liverpool…

But before he left for the second time, he got into a row with former finalist Carolynne Poole – and some Twitter users reported last night that he called her a “c***” – and became “abusive” to backstage staff when they asked him to stop disrupting rehearsals by laughing loudly as the other finalists rehearsed.

To Carolynne, Christopher later tweeted, “@CarolynnePoole you’ll do anything to get a headline! disgraceful! week one! bitter.”

Of Maloney, a show insider told the paper, “Everyone is completely fed up of his behaviour.

“He was abusive to the production team and other contestants.

“He said he was leaving and didn’t want to perform in the final tonight.”

Meanwhile, during the afternoon yesterday, an X Factor spokesman said, “Chris decided he no longer wanted to be part of The X Factor Final and has gone back to Liverpool.”

But there was yet more drama to come as Maloney reportedly then turned up just as the show was due to air live, “pleading and begging” to be allowed to perform with the other finalists.

However, the insider said, “He showed up wanting to go on stage but they had to turn him away as they were already on stage and he missed the dress rehearsal.”

The paper goes on to report, “Christopher had been livid after learning NONE of the other finalists said they wanted him to win.

“He was further embarrassed after they were overheard CHEERING backstage when he was booted off on Saturday.”

And on Twitter, Maloney claimed he was being “bullied” as part of a “witch hunt.”

Meanwhile, it was reported by the Sunday Mirror that Christopher was fired from his job at a Liverpool debt collection agency for alleged “serious misconduct” after “lunging across a desk at a female manager.”

A former colleague told the paper, “That isn’t the real Maloney you see on TV, he’s got a temper on him. I’m surprised people haven’t seen through him.”

But it seems that former finalist Kye Sones did, because he recently said, “All of us have got really close and then you’ve got Chris…

“We’ve been a really strong group and he’s been an outsider – and that’s nothing to do with any of us lot.

“He’s very tactical. There are two different people – one when cameras are there and one when they’re not there.”

But the upshot of all this drama is that it really does seem to prove the “diva” claims that’ve been made about Maloney. And it’s made so much worse because last night should’ve been all about James Arthur and Jahmene Douglas. Chris had his time in the limelight on Saturday, so to make the focus all about him was indeed downright diva-ish.

However, it seems that following his atrocious behavior, his place on the show’s live tour is now in doubt. I would imagine he’s kicking himself right about now for confirming all the negative press he’s received and for letting his façade slip just a tad too soon.

What’s your opinion on all the Maloney-gate drama?

For now, here’s a reminder of James singing the winner’s single, Impossible…

Lynn is an editor and writer here at Unreality TV and is a trained psychotherapist and the author of two books. She's addicted to soaps, period drama and reality TV shows such as X Factor, Big Brother, BGT and I'm A Celeb.